Egg turning and tray holder



`lune 2l, 1932. c. M. LOWER EGG TURNING AND TRAY HOLDER Filed April ll,1930 v. l x WV. N w c x, NAN M w w? s sw s? ,A &\ \\E NN j Q x N N a NMa ww w `lune 21, 1932. 3- M, LQWER 1,864,449

EGG TURNING AND TRAY HOLDER Filed April 1l. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f1/Ala c V/lwlhl WMW VA@ l W/MLE j im l) wf@ @y G L e j/IAG u June 21, C, M.LOWER EGG TURNING AND TRAY HOLDER Filed April l1, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5:JM/iunior Patented June 21, A1932 CLAUDE I. LOWER, I' BTURGIS, MICHIGANEGG TURNING AND TRAY HOLDER Application led April 11, 1980. Serial No.443.468.

This invention relates to incubators and has special relation to eggtray racks and has special reference to means for supporting andsimultaneously tilting a series of egg tray racks. v

One important object of the invention is to provide an improved andnovel arrangement of egg tray racks whereby eggs held in trays supportedin said racks may be quickly and l0 easily turned through at least aquarter circle.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novelarrangement of operating mechanism for such racks whereby the may beshifted between positions in whic they are tilted 45 degrees in onedirection to positions in which they are tilted 45 degrees in theopposite directions.

A third important object of the invention is the provision of meanswhereby such racks nay be simultaneously shifted'.

A fourth important object of the invention is to so arrange the racksand tilting mechanism that` the racks may be held in horizontal positionfor the insertion and removal of the egg trays.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide a simplestr'ucture for this purpose which will constitutea unit capable ofinsertion in or removal from an incubating chamber.

A sixth important object of the invention is to so arrange the tiltingmechanism that it may be operated from the exterior of the incubatingchamber.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists ingeneral of certain novel details of construction and combinations ofparts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and claimed.

,In the drawings Figure 1 is a front view of the device showing theracks in horizontal position;

Figure 2 is a front view showing the racks tilted in one direction;

Figure 3 is a rear view with the racks horizontal;

Figure 4 is a rear view with the racks tilted oppositely to Figure 2;'

Figure 5 is a view from the right hand side of Flgure 4;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the device;`

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of 55 certain parts of t-heoperating mechanism;

, Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a corner of one of the racks;

Figure 9 is a detail elevation of such a corner from the rear ofFigure8;

In the construction of the invention, there is provided a rectangularsupporting frame having angle iron uprights 10 at each corner, theseuprights being provided with feet 11 and connected in pairs at the frontand rear of the device by cross members 12. Diagonal braces 13 connectthe members 12 and other diagonal braces 14 connect the front and backuprlghts 10. Also, the front and rear frames are connected by crossmembers 15 at the top 70 and bot-tom.

The front and rear frames each have the legs 10 connected by verticallyspaced bars 16 A and these bars may be braced at their middle points byauxiliary legs 17. The frame thus arranged is intended to accommodate aplurality of stacks of tray racks. Each of these tray racks consists ofa pair of angle bars having a horizontal leg 18 and an upstanding leg19. The ends of the horizontal legs are turned down as at 20 and theturned down ends of one angle bar of the rack are connected to theturned down ends of the other by side bars 21, the angle barsconstituting the front and rear ends of the rack and the up- 35" turnedflanges 19 forming stops to prevent the tra s (not shown) from slidingolf upon the rac being tilted. Each rack has its side bars 21 providedwith outwardly offset portions 22 secured to the respective bars 16 by 9pivots 23 so that each rack is freely tiltable on said pivots.

For simultaneously tilting all the racks and for holding them inparallelposition there is provided, at the rear of the device, an inverted.U-shaped yoke having vertical legs 24 ivoted to the frames 'of therespective stac by pivots 25, the legs 24 beingconnected at their upperends by a cross member 26.

Mounted on the rear members 16 is a vertical 10 `journalled and at itsend this shaft is provided with a Worm wheel 34 wherewith meshes a worm35 fixed on a shaft 36 journalled in the bearing 33. The shaft 36extends parallel to one side of the frame and is supported at itsopposite end by a bearing 37. On its forward end the shaft 36 carries acrank 38 and this crank may obviously be located outside the incubatingchamber simply by giving the shaft 36 the necessary length.

. It is to be noted that the corners of the racks are braced by thebraces 39.

In operation the crank is rotated until the racks are brought tohorizontal position and in this position they are loaded with the traysfull of eggs. The crank is now turned until the racks assume a positionof substantially 45 degrees from the horizontal and thereafter, untilincubation is complete, the crank is manipulated to alternately shiftthe racks between their initial inclined Vor tilted positions topositions -at right angles thereto. Finally, upon completion ofincubation, the racks are brought to horizontal position and the traysremoved.

There has thus been provided a simple and eicient device of the kinddescribed and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that changes may be made in theform and construction ofthe invention" without departing from the principles thereof. It is not,therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form hereinshown and described but it is desired to include all such as come withinthe scope claimed.

`Having thus described the invention what is claimed is -1. In an eggtray supporting device, a frame, a plurality of series of tray racksspaced one above the other and having their sides pivoted to said frame,a vertical tie bar for each of said series of racks to which the racksof the respective series are all pivoted in spaced relation to thepivoted axes on I frame, a plurality of series of tray racks which theytilt, a cross bar connecting said tie bars for simultaneous verticalmovement, and means to raise and lower said cross bar.

for vertical sliding movement, a connecting rod connecting the rack barand cross bar, a gear meshing with the rack bar, a shaft supporting saidgear, and means to rotate said shaft in either direction.

3. In an egg tray supporting device, a frame, a plurality of series oftray racks spaced one above the other and having their sides pivoted tosaid frame, a vertical tie bar for each of said series of racks to whichthe racks of the respective series are all pivoted in spaced relation tothe pivoted axes on which they tilt, a cross bar connecting said tiebars for simultaneous vertical movement, a rack bar mounted on the rearof said frames for vertical sliding movement, a connecting rodconnecting the rack bar and cross bar, a gear meshing with the rack bar,a shaft supporting said gear, a second shaft extending from rear tofront of said frame, gearing connecting the first shaft and the rear endof the second shaft, and any operating crank on the front end of thesecond shaft.

In testimony whereofI aiiix my signature. CLAUDE M. LOWER.

2. In an egg tray supporting device, a

spaced one above the other and having their sides pivoted to said frame,a vertical tie bar for each of said series of racks to which the` racksof the respective series are all pivoted 1n spaced relation to thepivoted axes on which they tilt, a cross bar connecting said tie barsfor simultaneous vertical movement, a rack bar mounted on therear ofsaid frames

